The Gate of Gratitude

05/19/2025

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
— Psalm 100:4 (NIV)

There’s something sacred about entering a space that is not your own. Think of the times you’ve walked into a courtroom, a palace, or even someone’s beautifully decorated home. You instinctively adjust, your voice softens, your posture straightens, and you carry yourself with reverence. Now imagine walking into the courts of the King of Kings. What posture would you bring?

Today’s verse is more than a poetic invitation, it’s a divine prescription. God doesn’t call us to come before Him with complaints, comparison, or criticism. Instead, He says, “Enter with thanksgiving.” Gratitude is the key that unlocks the gate into His presence. Praise is the path that leads us deeper into His courts.

In the Old Testament, entering the tabernacle was a process. You couldn’t just waltz into the Most Holy Place. There were steps, layers, and rituals. The outer gate was where the worship began, and it began with thanksgiving. That hasn’t changed. If we want to dwell in God’s presence today, it still starts with a grateful heart.

Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we’ve been given. Praise lifts our eyes from our problems to our Provider. The beauty is that you don’t have to wait for perfect circumstances to begin. Start right where you are.

Corrie ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, once thanked God even for the fleas in her barracks because they kept the guards from entering, allowing the women to study the Bible in secret. That’s the power of praise, it reframes the worst of life through the lens of God’s goodness.

Here are a few ways you can enter His gates today. Let this help you on your journey.

Begin your prayers with three specific things you’re grateful for.

Speak out loud a praise to God for who He is, not just what He does.

Sing a worship song that helps center your heart on Him.

Write a short note of thanks to someone who has blessed you recently.

Pause before asking God for anything, and instead spend five minutes just thanking and praising Him. Watch how it changes your perspective.

Father, today I choose gratitude. I choose to enter Your gates not with grumbling, but with thanksgiving. You are good, and Your love endures forever. Thank You for Your faithfulness in every season, for Your mercy that renews each morning, and for Your presence that never leaves. May my heart overflow with praise today and every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Jeff

#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign

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